My name is Myungjae Lee, a student in the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering and a regular reporter for The SeoulTech. Around this time last year, I recall interviewing the grand prize winner of the “Eoui Culture and Arts Award’ in the English essay category. This year, as the top prize winner myself, I find myself picking up the pen to share my story with you all.

This year’s theme for the Eoui Culture and Arts Award was “challenge.” For many, the word “challenge” conjures up images of spectacular successes or the achievement of lofty goals. However, through my practice of Gukgung (traditional Korean archery), I learned that one’s attitude toward a challenge is more important than the outcome.

Consider the following saying: “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” While learning Gukgung, this phrase, often adopted as a motto by those who embrace challenges, gave me a new interpretation of what it means to challenge oneself. For those unfamiliar with the practice, Gukgung differs significantly from Olympic archery in that it relies on virtually no aiming tools or mechanical aids. It relies entirely on the archer’s posture, to the point where one shoots the bow with the body. Therefore, the archer’s mindset at the moment of release is reflected in the arrow with unadulterated transparency. Even the slightest wavering of the mind causes the arrow to miss the target. In the past, when I failed in a challenge, I often blamed external factors like market conditions or luck. But after picking up the bow, I changed. When an arrow missed, instead of blaming external circumstances, I began to look for the cause within my own posture and mindset. In other words, I stopped attributing failure to others and instead turned it into an opportunity for “reflection” solely for my own growth.

Ultimately, I believe the true meaning of the phrase “Shoot for the moon” lies in the process rather than the result. When we draw our bow toward the moon—representing our goals—even if we miss the mark, the enlightenment we gain by letting go and reflecting on ourselves is invaluable. This growth and self-awareness are the “shining stars” that we ultimately come to possess. In other words, the real achievement is not just hitting the target, but the personal growth that happens while we are aiming for it.

To all my fellow students who are anxious right now, facing countless challenges such as employment, competitions, exams, and assignments, I want to share this with you. I hope you won’t be too afraid that your results might not reach the moon. The arrows you’ve launched after intense deliberation and self-reflection already shine brightly through the process itself. I sincerely hope you become someone who grows strong within that journey, rather than being overly fixated on the outcome.

Reporter

Myungjae Lee

swk08085@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 이명재

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• e-mail : swk08085@seoultech.ac.kr